Eastrop Park

You can find a boating lake, tree trail, trim trail, children’s play area and a paddling pool in Eastrop Park. Eastrop Park was awarded the Green Flag Award for 2022/23.

The River Loddon runs through the park, feeding into a balancing pond in the wildlife area. You can watch wildlife from the dipping platform, on, below and beside the water (caution is recommended in wet conditions). Many birds inhabit this area including a kingfisher which can be seen hunting along the river.

A programme of events run throughout the summer is advertised in the What's On guide on the Destination Basingstoke website.

Please take a look at the management plan below which sets out the future management of the park.

Eastrop Management Plan 2016-2026(PDF) [5 Mb]

Location and access

Eastrop Park is accessible by a short walk from Festival Place and the bus station. The centre shuttle stops at City Wall House bus stop, Basing View; follow the footpath over the bridge to the park. View the location map to find out how to get to Eastrop Park (PDF)[2MB].

Free parking is available at two car parks on site, accessible from Eastrop Way. Both have disabled parking bays. There is a disabled toilet and pathways throughout the park are suitable for buggies and wheelchair users.

Facilities

Café and boathouse
This facility is weather dependent but generally open from 11.30am to 5.30pm as follows:

• Easter weekend/Easter school holiday.
• May half term.
• School summer holiday.
• Bank holidays between Easter and the end of September.
• Weekends from Easter until the end of September.

Outdoor Activities
Boats (per person/20 minutes)
Adult £2.50
Junior £1.70

Basingstoke Model Boat Club
The model boating lake is the smaller of the two manmade lakes and is used regularly by the Basingstoke Model Boat Club. This group brings a variety of models such as yachts and steam boats for a peaceful sail in the park. The group is always willing to talk about their boats and welcome new members to the club. To find out more about the Basingstoke Model Boat club and how you can get involved visit the group’s website.

Play facility
There is a range of play equipment in the park, to meet the needs of various age groups and abilities.

Improvements to Eastrop Park

The council and the Environment Agency are currently working to identify ways to improve the River Loddon at Eastrop Park.

The majority of the river within the park runs through channels on the surface and underground culverts. The culverts need to be replaced within the next few years. This provides an opportunity to create a more natural and attractive course for the river whilst also improving the area.

Any work is dependent on the project partners securing funding to develop and implement improvements. Discussions are at an very early stage. We will continue to consult everyone with an interest in the park as the project develops.

Walking

View the self-guided walk linking this park to the War Memorial Park (PDF)[3MB]. The guide includes a walk summary, directions and interesting information about the features that you will pass along the way.

Basingstoke Wellbeing Walks

Basingstoke Wellbeing Walks encourages people of all ages to join regular, short walks in their own communities. The walks help boost the health of participants whilst enjoying local, natural spaces in the company of others. The social side of walking can be as important for wellbeing as the walk itself.

For more information please visit the Basingstoke Voluntary website.

Eastrop Tree Trail
The majority of the Tree Trail follows a hard tarmac path, suitable for prams, buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Download a copy of the leaflet about the tree trail(PDF)[8MB] or pick a copy up from the Discovery Centre. Maps are included for your reference, directing you to the park and guiding you around the trail. Each of the 23 tree species is identified by a wooden marker post.

The Basing Trail
The Basing Trail is a marked circular walk leading to the picturesque village of Old Basing. This trail takes you through our attractive parks and the famous Civil War site of Basing House. You'll see the ruins, surviving buildings and earthworks which still bear the scars of its historic siege.

The walk is very flexible with short cuts to create walks of either 2, 3 or 4.5 miles. Information panels are located at key points along the trail. Download the trail leaflet or pick one up from Basingstoke railway station, the Millstone Public House in Old Basing or from Basing House.

National Cycle Network

Route 23 of the National Cycle Network (you will need to click on the change map icon in the bottom right hand corner to select 'National Cycle Network') runs through the park along with other off road routes. Find out more information on cycling in the borough.

Basingstoke Canal Heritage footpath

The Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath runs approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Festival Place. It passes through Eastrop Park, across Basing Fen and on to Basing House, closely following the original canal route. The footpath also connects to a route through Crabtree Plantation and Black Dam Nature Reserve. This allows you to take an alternative route back to Basingstoke. It is possible to return by bus from Old Basing and travel information can be obtained from Stagecoach. Wooden information boards along the path provide walkers with information about the canal and the local wildlife.

The first section of the footpath from Festival Place to the start of Basing Fen is tarmacked. After that the ground is uneven and walkers must cross grassland, a narrow boardwalk and follow muddy tracks. Download the Basingstoke Canal Heritage footpath guided walk leaflet.